Principal Solicitor

Job description

Job title: Principal Solicitor     
Team: Legal Team
Location: Based in our Glasgow office, with everyday flexibility working options
Grade: 6
Salary: £52,527
Hours: 35 hours per week 
Status: Full-time, permanent
Vacancy ref: R00703 
Closing date: 3 June 2026

Be part of building Scotland’s future

At Scottish Enterprise, we operate at the point where public and private sectors come together – working across Scotland and internationally to help drive economic growth in a global context.

We have a rare opportunity for a Principal Solicitor to join our legal team. The team provides strategic legal advice, manages legal risk and supports the delivery of major projects across the organisation.

The role

Our principal solicitors play a central role in how our organisation manages legal risk.

This is a varied role, working across a range of legal specialisms including public law and governance, subsidy, real estate, company and commercial law, corporate finance, data protection, procurement and litigation.

As a Principal Solicitor, you’ll provide strategic advice on changes to the law and how they apply to our organisation. You’ll identify legal risks in day-to-day operations and help solve complex problems, so we can deliver impactful and often innovative projects.

Responsibilities

Your responsibilities will include:

• Advising and delivering on a broad mix of legal matters – identifying and assessing legal risks, providing advice to colleagues across the organisation on existing and emerging legal requirements, and helping deliver significant transactions
• Problem solving will be a central part of the role
• Instructing and managing work of external law firms, including associated legal budgets
• Identifying opportunities to improve how legal services are delivered across the organisation and helping to put those improvements into practice

Who we're looking for

Essential requirements for this role:

You must be a fully qualified solicitor with a current practising certificate and relevant post-qualification experience. 

Ideally, this will include experience in one or more of the following areas: public law, governance, subsidy, real estate, company and commercial law, corporate finance, procurement, data protection or litigation.

Other essential requirements include:

• The ability to identify and advise on a wide range of legal risks at both project and organisational level
• Confidence in taking a high degree of responsibility as part of a structured and supportive legal team
• Strong communication and influencing skills, and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of people both inside and outside the organisation
• Responsibility for the effective delivery of routine transactions, while also working with external law firms and legal colleagues on more complex projects
• The ability to prioritise work efficiently
• Keen intellectual curiosity and an interest in learning about new areas of law and business, reflecting the breadth of the role and the nature of the organisation
• Strong commercial awareness

Ideally, but not essentially, you’ll also have: 

Political awareness and a good understanding of the public regulatory framework. If this is new to you, we’ll support you to build your knowledge and experience in this area.

Life at Scottish Enterprise

We pride ourselves on empowering our colleagues to work when and where they can best deliver their role in support of our corporate plan.

Learn more about working with us 

How to apply

If you're interested in this role, complete your application form by Wednesday 3 June 2026. 

First-round interview dates are expected to take place on: 18, 19 and 22 June 2026.

Our values

Being part of Scottish Enterprise means being open to new ideas and trying different ways of working. We support each other to reach our full potential. We celebrate shared success and learn together when things don’t go so well. And we always treat each other fairly, with respect and understanding. Together, we are the difference.  

At Scottish Enterprise, we’re proud to celebrate difference. Diversity of experience and thought is vital to the success of our vision for the future of every community across Scotland. As an equal opportunity employer, we actively encourage applications from a wide range of individuals, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, gender identity and expression, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

We commit to providing any reasonable adjustments required, not only during the application and assessment process but throughout your employment with us. 

We have the following networks that are open to all colleagues to help drive inclusion: Disability Positive, Gender Balanced, Multi-Cultural, Multi-Generational and Pride (LGBTQ+).

Apply now to build your future with us.